Respirator frame



P 1942- c. H. DOCKSON 2,296,775

RESPIRATOR FRAME Filed July 9, 1941 Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a respirator frame, and more particularly to a sanitary mask or supporting device adapted to conform to the outline of the face and maintain a gauze, or any other air filtering device in front of the nose and mouth.

It is the object of this invention to provide an air filtering device, and a support therefore adapted to be comfortably disposed against the face.

It is the object of this invention to provide a supporting device to hold an air filter which is adapted to support and maintain the same in spaced relation to the nose and mouth to facilitate the inhalation and expulsion of air by the operator.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a respirator frame which is adapted for use by operators of grinding machines or other dust or line particle producing work to aid in collecting dust so that the same does not enter the lungs of the operator. Said frame is further adapted for use by doctors, nurses, etc.

It is the still further object of this invention to. provide a respirator frame with chin engaging means forming a part thereof to guarantee that said frame will not slip or move upward over the face.

It is the still further object of this invention to provide gauze, felt, cotton, filter paper, etc., or other type of air filter with means thereon adapted for removable attachment to and in combination with said respirator frame.

It is the still further object hereof to provide clamping means upon said frame to further secure said filter in cooperative engagement with said frame, and for the purpose of squarely or accurately aiding in the proper location of filtering material.

It is the still further object of this invention to provide a respirator frame with a minimum of surface area, so that merely a skeleton structure is provided consisting of chin engaging members, and having a mouth clearance and a nose opening formed by the provision of arcuate or otherwise outwardly projecting members which are further adapted to maintain the filter in spaced relation to the nose and mouth.

It is the still further object of this invention to provide a plurality of types of air filters or complete breathing bags which are adapted to removable attachment to the respirator frame for a pluralit of uses.

The invention hereinafter described in detail relates to the various elements and their combination as set out in the appended drawing of which:

Figure l is an elevational view of the respirator frame.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same; and

Figure 4 is an elevational pattern view of the unshaped respirator frame.

It will be understood that this invention is not limited to the above illustrations which are merely preferable embodiments thereof by way of example.

In the drawing, the respirator frame consists of a skeleton structure I I made from a substantially light weight flexible material stamped out as shown in Figure 4, and provided with the configuration as hereinafter described.

The frame consists of an arcuately formed outwardly projecting lower lip bridge I2, from which downwardly depend the chin engaging means l3.

Members i3 inwardly concaved or formed at It on the lower extremities thereof, are disposed in spaced relation to form a suitable chin opening Hi. The formed portions [4 which project inwardly together with the opening l5 receive the chin and maintain the frame II in relatively secure position thereon preventing slipping or riding of the mask, thereby overcoming a difficulty heretofore experienced. It will be noted, however, that members M are not absolutely necessary and may be omitted.

An upper lip bridge l6 of substantially V shape extends outwardly from the frame II, and is suitably secured at its ends, as by welding, riveting or soldering, or in any other suitable manner, to the inwardly extending tabs H. The latter are formed integrally with frame II as illustrated in the pattern view Figure 4.

Member I6 concaved or in the V shape as described above is intended to maintain a spaced relationship between the face of the wearer and the frame II, with the object of keeping the filter away from the face so that said filter has no tendency to be entangled in the lips or mouth of the operator.

Thus the mouth clearance I3 is formed by and between the lower and upper lip bridges l2 and 16 respectively, whereby a relatively large space is provided with a minimum of frame structure.

A nose bridge [9 is also arcuately formed to conform to the shape of the nose, and is so outwardly disposed as to cooperate with the members I2 and I6 to provide an outwardly concaved respirator frame or mask.

As seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the nose bridge l9 together with the upper lip bridge l6 provide therebetween a suitable and adequately large nose opening 20. It is intended that the nose bridge l9 comfortably rest upon the operators nose and is sufficiently flexible that the operator or user can form the frame easily and bend the same to fit snugly to any shape of face.

Slots 2| are formed within the frame ll arranged preferably in a central portion thereof, and are adapted to receive a suitable adjustable elastic band 22, or other resilient means adapted to engage the back of the wearers head for maintaining the respirator frame comfortably upon the face.

A sanitary pad 23 formed of gauze, cotton, filter paper, or other suitable air filtering material is adapted to be secured to and supported by the frame II by means of asuitable clip 24 such as a glove fastener secured thereto which cooperatively and complementally engages the clip 25 or corresponding glove fastener which is centrally secured on the inside of the upper lip bridge member l6.

By this preferable method of attachment the filter 23 is easily removable and interchangeable with clean filters as and when desired, merely by snapping and unsnapping clips 24 and 25.

Additional resiliently hinged filter clamping members 26 are preferably secured in spaced relation upon the outside of frame H adjacent thenose bridge I9.

The gauze filter 23 is best secured and squarely positioned by overlapping the top edges thereof over the frame H to be engaged and firmly secured by the resiliently disposed clamping members 26.

In this connection it will be understood that the filters may be of any desirable shape or size. For instance, the air filter may be in the form of acontainer or bag of any desirable volume depending upon the amount of free air breathing space which might be required. Thus it is seen thatthis device-might beemployed in the manufacture of gas masks. It is understood that a similar glove fastener 24 is attached to this latter type of filter for cooperative fastening engagement with the clip 25 secured to member By the above described arrangements of elements it is seen that the respirator frame is well ventilated, and consequently much cooler by the provision of means which establish a lip bridge, providing a mouth clearance therebetween, an outwardly projecting nose bridge forming a nose opening adjacent said upper lip bridge, means for securing said frame over the nose and mouth of an individual, an air filter pad detachably secured to said frame, whereby a spaced relation is defined between said filter and said nose and mouth, and means depending downwardly from said lower lip bridge for cooperatively engaging the under side of the wearers chin.

2. A respirator frame comprised of a skeleton structure consisting of an outwardly projecting lower lip bridge, an outwardly projecting upper lip bridge, providing a mouth clearance therebetween, an outwardly projecting nose bridge forming a nose opening adjacent said upper lip bridge, means for securing said frame over the nose and mouth of an individual, an air filter pad detachably secured to said frame, whereby a spaced relation is defined between said filter and said nose and mouth, means depending downwardly from said lower lip bridge for cooperatively engaging the under side of the wearers chin, and means secured upon the outside of said frame adapted to removably clamp overlapping portions of said filter.

3. A respirator frame comprised of a skeleton structure, having a concaved outwardly projecting lower lip bridge, an outwardly projecting substantially V shaped upper lip bridge providing a mouth clearance therebetween, an arcuate continuous outwardly projecting nose bridge forming a nose opening adjacent said upper lip bridge, means for securing said frame over the nose and mouth of an individual, an air filter pad detachably secured to said frame, whereby a spaced relation is defined between said filter and said nose and mouth, and arcuately formed chin engaging means downwardly depending from said lower lip bridge for cooperatively engaging the under side of the wearers chin.

4. A respirator frame comprised of an outwardly projecting lower lip bridge, an outwardly projecting upper lip bridge, providing a mouth clearance therebetween, an outwardly projecting nose bridge forming a nose opening adjacent said upper lip bridge, means for securing said frame in spaced relation over the nose and mouth of an individual, an air filter with a projecting fastener stud thereon for attachment to said frame, and a socket member disposed upon the inside of saidupper lip bridge for cooperative and removable engagement with said filter fastener stud.

5. A respirator frame comprised of an outwardly projecting lower lip bridge, an outwardly projecting upper lip bridge, providing, a mouth clearance therebetween, an outwardly projecting nose bridge-forming a nose opening adjacent said upper'lip bridge, means for securing said frame in spaced relation over the nose and mouth of an individual, anair filter with fastening means thereon for attachment to said frame, and a cooperating member disposed upon the inside of said upper lip bridge for cooperative and removable engagement with said fastening means.

CHARLES H. DOCKSON. 

